by Carlol Povey- Awareness and understanding of autism has improved markedly in recent times. But there is still a long way to go, as is shown by the fact that autism was the fifth most common ‘what is?’ question on Google in 2014. All too often, we hear from individuals and families living with autism […]

COMMENTARY

by Maureen Bragg – It was not so long ago that a left-handed student was forced to write with their right hand in the classroom. Some even tell of having their left hand tied to their sides, until a lightbulb went on somewhere and the school system stopped trying to force square pegs into round […]

PARENTING

by Rob Novit – Jordan Hall, an enthusiastic 12-year-old, was shooting a basketball time after time, then later singing with a karaoke machine. Sometimes, other kids will tell his younger brother, Ethan, that Jordan acts funny and ask what’s wrong with him. Nothing, Ethan will say: “He’s my brother.” Jordan has Down syndrome, a genetic disorder […]

RESEARCH & TECH

by Jessica Wright – A second look at 64 genes implicated in autism has bolstered evidence for the strongest candidates and renewed interest in others with more modest ties to the disorder. The approach, described 24 November in Nature Communications, will help researchers reconcile the reams of data emerging from large sequencing studies. The study […]

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EDUCATION

by Eddie Krassenstein – When it comes to 3D printing, there are limitless ways in which the technology can be utilized. Businesses, hobbyists, and educational institutions are beginning to fully understand some of the potential benefits that the technology can provide. 3D printing has, and will continue to, provide a means for inventors, innovators, and […]

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LAW & POLITICS

by Jeremy Thomas – Pick a date, any date in history, and Joe Cintas can tell you, with only a moment’s pause, what day of the week it was. Diagnosed with autism at age 3, Cintas wields astonishing brain power when it comes to numbers and finding patterns, but, like many with his disability, his […]

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PERSONAL STORY

by Nicole Jankowski – When my autistic son, Dominic, was 4 years old he ate nearly every piece of a foam puzzle while I was in the shower. He seemed fine enough when I came out, looked at me with his round, cornflower eyes blinking. He wasn’t the least bit distressed. But I was pretty flipping […]